The Hague, 19 May 2004

OPCW Eastern European National Authorities Meet in Romania

The OPCW Eastern European National Authorities met in Bucharest, Romania from 17 to 19 May 2004. The meeting was organised jointly by the Romanian Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) National Authority, the National Agency for Export Controls (ANCEX), and the OPCW. This third meeting was attended by the representatives of 25 National Authorities, as well as the international organisations, the World Customs Organisation (WCO), and the European Council of Chemical Industry Associations (CEFIC).

Participants discussed the practical measures needed to fulfil the objectives of the Action Plan on enhancing the effectiveness of the CWC’s National Implementation Measures. In the course of the meeting, the status of the Convention’s implementation in Eastern Europe was reviewed, focussing on the CWC’s requirements for legislative and administrative provisions to monitor and declare transfers of Scheduled chemicals. Participants exchanged their experience in this area, further strengthening the cooperative network established to provide implementation support to individual States Parties. National Authority representatives also conferred with national implementation experts from the OPCW Technical Secretariat.

The meeting was opened by Ms Nineta Barbulescu, President of ANCEX, and Mr Rogelio Pfirter, Director-General of the OPCW.

In her opening statement to the meeting, Ms Barbulescu underscored the need to effectively address the international community’s growing concerns about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-state actors, including the proliferation of chemical weapons. She noted that it is crucial to assess the role of transfers of Scheduled chemicals. At the same time, it is important to identify the means needed for the national implementation of both the United Nations’ Security Council Resolution 1540, as well as the OPCW’s Article VII Action Plan. She expected the meeting will contribute to bolstering both the regional network and its efforts to ensure the CWC’s sustainable and effective implementation.

Director-General Pfirter explained that following the adoption of the United Nations’ Security Council Resolution 1540, all countries in the world, including States that have not yet joined the CWC, are now obliged under law to implement the CWC’s non-proliferation provisions. He also emphasized that the Eastern Europe nations have unanimously renounced weapons of mass destruction and fully supported the legal instruments aimed at their elimination. He noted that the Eastern European States Parties are making steady progress in the implementation of the CWC, being able to complete in most cases all implementation-related requirements.